Al Qaeda Takes Blame For Algerian Bombings, SITE Says

LONDON, July 19 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda in North Africa has claimed responsbility for suicide bombs in Algeria at the weekend that a security source said had killed at least two people, the SITE online monitoring service said on Tuesday.

It said al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said it had carried out two suicide bombings in Bordj Menaiel, a town 70 km (45 miles) east of the capital Algiers.

SITE said AQIM made the claim in a communique with Tuesday's date posted on online jihadist forums.

A local security source who did not want to be identified told Reuters that two people died when a suicide bomber targeted a police headquarters in the town. One of the dead was a police officer. Several other police were seriously wounded.

There has been no official confirmation of the attack.

Al Qaeda's north African branch frequently attacks security forces in rural areas of Algeria, but it has been months since there have been any bombings in the centre of a town.

AQIM said in its communique that it had carried out two coordinated suicide bombings at the police station in the town on Saturday, killing 15 security forces.

It said these attacks followed two bombings by AQIM fighters in Baghlia town on July 13 and 14.

Algeria, an energy exporter in North Africa, is still emerging from nearly two decades of conflict between security forces and Islamist militants that, at its peak in the 1990s, killed an estimated 200,000 people.

In the past few years the violence has been reduced significantly, but the militants -- who now operate as AQIM -- still carry out ambushes, kidnappings and occasional bombings.

Bordj Menaiel is in the mountainous Kabylie region, where AQIM has its headquarters for northern Algeria, and where many of the attacks are concentrated. (Writing by Richard Meares; Editing by Alison Williams)

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[ArthroughpadNY]

01:32 PM on 07/20/2011

Now that is something to be proud of. Hey Ali, how many innocents did you manage to kill? These people are sick psychos who need to be put down. No trial, no negotiation, just kill them.

[Mactan99]

01:05 PM on 07/20/2011

I don't believe that, the "peaceful" muslims couldn't possibly be responsible.

[harkone75]

12:26 PM on 07/20/2011

Please do not let Obama read this...for sure he will have us in another war.

[Mactan99]

01:07 PM on 07/20/2011

He'll also apologize, and give them a few billion dollars.

[harkone75]

02:37 PM on 07/20/2011

Fanned Mac

[jimmygwrites]

11:38 AM on 07/20/2011

I think we can assume if a bomb goes off its probably Al Qaeda. Its pretty much their preferred past time.

[LRAdams]

11:30 AM on 07/20/2011

Al Qaeda do not take Blame* they believe it was an *Honor*.

[Ed Vermeulen]

10:59 AM on 07/20/2011

That's those muslims again.... 200 thousand people...amazing and horrible.

[ConnieDr]

10:49 AM on 07/20/2011

A bill that would suspend billions in federal aid to Mideast countries until the White House can certify they are not controlled by groups hostile to the U.S. contains a major loophole that would allow Obama to waive rules in interest of national security.

[Samsdog212]

10:16 AM on 07/20/2011

"Just who is this Al Queda guy anyway?? Why can't we find him?" That was my impersonation of what Liberals think Conservatives all sound like. How about some good civil political discourse? Anyone up for that? Since every single news story now links me directly to this website, making me feel somewhat akin to Custer's 7th at the Little Big Horn, what say we make the best of it? I can speak a fact and you can all call me a liar and deranged. Y'know, just for kicks.

[miahurley]

09:47 AM on 07/20/2011

Time for more drones.

[jtalc58909]

09:45 AM on 07/20/2011

We haveSOME writers here at HP. I wonder if any graduated HS? Sorry dear it's not "Al Qaeda takes the blame', it's Al Qade takes credit for or "claims responsibility for". Blame has a negative connotation whereas credit or responsibility is positive which they believe this to be so. Oh there I go confusing you with connotation and denotation and denomination and nation just in general. Let's just leave it at learn to write the Kings English.

[madmaxxs]

12:19 PM on 07/20/2011

You mean the King's English! King's is possesive in this case, it requires an apostrophe! If you want to teach the poor blokes at HP some proper english, I would think a rudimentary grasp of the fundamentals of punctuation would be in order first! Cheerio, my good fellow!

[jtalc58909]

01:27 PM on 07/21/2011

Sorry my good fellow, its' ;) known as a typographical error. Cheerio my foolish friend :)

[wanderingroman]

09:08 AM on 07/20/2011

From past experience, I've seen where the majority of Al-Qaeda "supporters" on a message board are trolls looking to get a rise out of the audience.

No exception here.

A good moderator would do an IP match and send them a warning, or ban them.

[daregoni]

09:07 AM on 07/20/2011

Really?

[gposner29]

08:46 AM on 07/20/2011

Finally, some accountability...al Qaeda admits to being the cause of death and destruction.
Why can't other guilty parties, man up, and admit when they made a mistake or did something they know is wrong? al Qaeda sets an example to follow...Own up to your mistakes and shortcomings. Finally al Qaeda has seen the light. Hopefully they will now embark on a path of redemption and have a massive organ harvest.

[OliverTwist]

08:11 AM on 07/20/2011

"SITE"

Who is that?

"Al Qaeda in North Africa"

Is that what they call themselves?

"Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb"

Is that what they call themselves?

[BestGuest]

06:35 AM on 07/20/2011

Emmanuel Goldstein. and the Brotherhood has overrun another allied state.... be vigilant, be brave, be loyal....